AMEX Lowers Your Credit Limit If You Shop Where Deadbeats Shop

By Ben PopkenDecember 22, 2008

AMEX is now cutting people’s credit limits for shopping at the wrong store.

29-year old black entrepreneur Kevin Johnson, who has a perfect payment history and a high credit score, recently got a letter from AMEX cutting his credit limit. The letter said, “Other customers who have used their card at establishments where you recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American Express.” Kevin couldn’t tell what set it off, his statement had what he saw as normal transactions, including places like Amazon, Ruby Tuesday, WalMart, Starbucks and Federal Express.

AMEX defended its practice saying, “We’re just doing this to manage risk…customers who make transactions with certain merchants tend to have a higher proportion of credit issues or a higher probability of default.”